The 2016-17 college basketball season kicks off tomorrow night with a full slate of games capped by a star-studded double header in Hawaii that pits Arizona vs. Michigan State and Indiana vs. Kansas. This year’s freshman class is widely-considered one of the best of the one-and-done era and features plenty of ballers that will be household names by the 2017 NBA Draft. While the youngn’s will garner plenty of hype, there are still quite a few sophomores and upperclassmen who are poised for a big season.

Get familiar with the next wave of college stars before they’re all over your TV this season.

Jarrett Allen, Fr., F/C, Texas

A highly-touted recruit, Allen will try to follow in the footsteps of LaMarcus Aldridge, Myles Turner and Tristan Thompson as big men who spent time in Austin before becoming a top Draft pick.

Lonzo Ball, Fr., G, UCLA

One of three Ball brothers committed to UCLA, you’ll see very soon why Lonzo is as fun a player as there is in the college game.

Dwayne Bacon, So., G, and Jonathan Isaac, Fr., F, Florida St.

A talented scorer, Bacon averaged just under 16 ppg during his freshman season and hopes a big sophomore campaign will result in a first-round selection in next year’s Draft. Isaac is a 6-11 small forward who is oozing with potential and will likely be a Lottery pick in ’17.

VJ Beachem, Sr., F, Notre Dame

Beachem blew up in the ’16 NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.5 points and 4.0 boards and became a social media sensation when he banged on Carolina’s Nate Britt in the Elite Eight.

Jaron Blossomgame, Sr., F, Clemson

Blossomgame averaged 18.7 points and 6.7 boards per game last season and flirted with entering the Draft. With another strong season, he could be a top-20 pick in 2017.

Thomas Bryant, So., F, Indiana

This big man likely would have been a first-round pick in the ’16 Draft. In Bryant and OG Anunoby, the Hoosiers have two of the best forwards in the country.

Markelle Fultz, Fr., G, Washington

A potential top-3 pick in the 2017 Draft, Fultz went from not even playing varsity as a sophomore to one of the most sought-after recruits in the country.

Marcus LoVett, RS Fr., G and Shamorie Ponds, Fr., G, St. John’s

Save for a W over Syracuse, Head Coach Chris Mullin’s first year in Queens was a disaster. The Red Storm will be better in ’16-17 and a lot of that has to do with the talented, fun guard combo of Chicago’s LoVett and BK’s Ponds.

Charlie Moore, Fr., G, and Ivan Rabb, So., F California

The top prep player from Chicago, Moore decommitted from Memphis and decided to head west this past May. Rabb came in to Cal with a ton of hype and is looking to play with more consistency in his second year with the Bears.

Dennis Smith Fr., G NC State

An absolute freak athlete and a highlight waiting to happen, Smith will make an otherwise uninteresting Wolfpack team worth watching before he goes to the L.

The Kentucky Derby Festival is one of the nation’s most historic events, and things got popping off with the Derby Basketball Classic. Sponsored by Under Armour, the game blends some of the best players from the UA Association with recruits bound for the elite local programs, giving the faithful a glimpse to see what their future rosters will look like. Indiana and Louisville were well represented and even though UK didn’t have any recruits in the game, the Big Blue Nation still showed out to see some legit hoops.

Players such as Victor Oladipo, Devin Robinson, Cody Zeller, and Tyler Ennis used this game to show NBA scouts why recruiting guys and colleges alike missed out on. This year was no different, either. It was ultimately the purple squad that walked away with a 127-119 W in an up and down affair. As one can imagine, there were plenty of players who proved that they weren’t quite getting the respect that they deserved in the national rankings, too.

Here are a few of the standouts from the 2015 Derby Classic:

Thomas Bryant, 6-10, PF/C, Huntington Prep (WV)

‎The MVP for the victorious purple squad lived up to his billing as one of the best big men in the country. Like he did early in his high school days, Bryant showed off his ability to stretch the D with his 3 three pointers. He showed off his new arsenal on the blocks too, along with toughness that you don’t usually see in all-star games. The IU faithful came out to see their most highly touted recruit and through his 19 points, he did not disappoint.

Donovan Mitchell, 6-3, SG, Brewster Academy (NH)

Undoubtedly the immediate crowd favorite, Donovan Mitchell showed out in front of his future fans at Freedom Hall.‎ After killing it in the dunk contest at the Night of Future Stars, ‎he continued in the Derby game itself. Leading all scorers with 21 points, you got to see what Mitchell was all about. He was a beast in transition, fearless attacking the rack, and locked down on either guard spot on D. While Donovan didn’t shoot it too well (1-6 from three), you could still see why he’s going to be loved in Louisville.

Justin Simon, 6-5, PG, Brewster Academy (NH)

Built for a game of this setting, Justin Simon gave the fans exactly what they wanted in Louisville. The big lead guard was amazing in transition, got everyone the rock in scoring positions, and converted at the rim. With TJ McConnnell’s graduation, Simon will have plenty of opportunity to get immediate burn at Point Guard U.

Dedric Lawson, 6-8, PF, Memphis Hamilton (TN)

A reclassed member of the class of 2016, Dedric Lawson showed off the versatile skill set that made Memphis want him to college a year early. He shot the ball well from the perimeter, used his length to defend multiple positions, and showed the skill level that will alow him to go to work inside and out. Dedric is the prototypical hybrid forward who can play everywehre on the floor, as his stat line of 14 points, 8 boards, 5 dimes, 4 blocks, and 2 steals reflected.

Diamond Stone, 6-10, C, Dominican (WI)

The most highly touted player in the game showed why he is going to help Maryland contend for a national championship. He threw out a flurry of moves on the blocks, showed off his soft touch around the rim, and used his size to create a ton of space inside. The Young Legends product has been doing it big on the Under Armour circuit for years now, and should continue at Maryland.

Daniel Giddens, 6-10, C, Oak Hill Academy (VA)

A straight monster in the paint, Giddens showed what he’s all about at Derby. He’s not going to hit you with any Dream Shakes right now, but what he does offer simply cannot be taught. The Oak Hill product looks to rip the rim off every time he gets the ball, has an NBA body, and is as good of a defender as you’ll find in a center for 2015. Giddens showed all of the makings of Ohio’s State’s next potential NBA bound big man in his 15 point, 8 rebound performance.

Announcement from our friends at Scholastics Play By Play Classics below:

The inaugural LeBron James Classic takes place at The LeBron James Arena on the campus of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) on December 20th and 21st, featuring the top teams and players from national and local schools.

This event promises to be one of the nation’s best showcase events, in just its first year of existence. Host school, STVM plays national stalwart St. Benedict’s on Saturday and a long awaited meeting with Jackson High School on Sunday. STVM is a 6-time boy’s basketball Ohio High School State Champion (1984, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2013) and is a perennial power. LeBron James VM03, kept a promise to his alma mater last year by donating over $1 million dollars to renovate the school’s gymnasium and to be renamed in his honor. James led the Fighting Irish to three states titles and one national title in four seasons and has won two more NBA championships with the Miami Heat while establishing himself as the best basketball player in the world. His return to Cleveland has energized Northeast Ohio. He is excited to have this event with his namesake at his old school.

“We are excited to host the inaugural LeBron James Classic. The response has been great, as we have put together a great showcase of top national and local teams. Fans in this area will be treated to some great high school basketball.” — Dru Joyce, St. Vincent-St. Mary Boys Basketball Coach

Known for the ridiculously intense passion of their fan base, the state of Kentucky is one of the few places in the country that can hold a high school event without a team in its own state participating. Despite the fact that we live in a YouTube generation in which virtually every top player has a handful of mixtapes online, the UK and UofL faithful showed up in force. The Bluegrass Sports Commission kicked off its 2014-15 season with the Joe B. Hall and Denny Crum Bluegrass Showcase and there was no shortage of talent that could potentially be playing in state.

Thon Maker, Josh Jackson, Caleb Swanigan, Traci Carter, Miles Bridges, Terrance Ferguson, and Thomas Bryant were amongst the players that either UK or U of L was recruiting. In fact, many of the aforementioned guys were being fought after by both programs. The two day event brought players from coast to coast with countless countries of origin. College coaches lined the sidelines to be seen by players they were recruiting and even though it was early in the season, competition was just as tough as you’d see with most squads late in the year after gelling as a unit.

Here are a few of the top seniors that we saw from the 2014 Bluegrass Showcase:

Thomas Bryant, 6-10, PF/C, Huntington Prep (WV)

While there were a lot of guys who put up bigger numbers, not many had a bigger impact on the game than Thomas Bryant. Earning an offer from Kentucky with his play throughout the weekend, Bryant proved to be the type of crazy high motor guy that every coach dreams of. He ran the floor to finish with dunks, rebounded the ball outside of his area, and was the vocal leader that got everyone hyped. Bryant will be one of the hottest names left in the class of 2015 by the time he announces his college choice this spring.

Caleb Swanigan, 6-9, PF/C, Homestead HS (IN)

One of the nation’s truly elite big men, Caleb Swanigan lived up to his rep in Lexington. Despite being faced with constant double teams, he summed up his weekend showing with a 39 point, 21 rebound, 6 assist game against White Station. Rocking a svelte 250 pound frame, his improved body translated into much quicker moves on the block and better explosiveness vertically. Swanigan proved that he is one of the very best rebounders in the country, which is why virtually every college in the country is fighting for his services.

Kyle Alexander, 6-9, PF/C, Orangeville Prep (CAN)

Orangeville Prep rocks a roster that is full of high major players, so naturally, not everyone is going to get the shots or burn that they’d usually see if they were playing with their local school. That’s just the price you pay for playing for a national (or in this case International) power. Blessed with a massive wingspan and ideal frame, Alexander is the type of developmental big man that college coaches dream of in the late signing period. He can shoot it a little facing up, rebounds his area well, and offers a formidable presence defensively. Still wide open in the process, Alexander is a surety to blow up.

Nate Grimes, 6-8, PF, Quality Education Academy (NC)

There was no one better in QEA’s two upset wins than Nate Grimes. Topping Arlington Country Day and Orangeville Prep, Grimes led the team in scoring and rebounding with his versatile play. The Vegas product was named MVP of QEA’s first game due to his ability to shoot the mid-range jumper, explosive dunks, and impact that he made on the game defensively. Already committed to Fresno State, Grimes is the type of high upside guy that you certainly may be hearing a lot from in the future.

Kyle Leufroy, 6-2, PG/SG, Prolific Prep (CA)

Not a guy who is going to blow you away in any particular facet of the game, Kyle Leufroy came up with some key plays throughout Prolific Prep’s two W’s over the weekend. He was a constant penetrator, always head his head up to find the open man, and made sound decisions with the rock in his hands. Lehigh made it a point to lock up Leufroy early and he will look to follow in CJ McCollum’s foot steps as the school’s next star combo guard.

Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League took over the Lone Star State for its second of four “regular season” sessions a couple of weeks ago. After its season-opening weekend in Sacramento (CA) in late April, the circuit moved to Dallas two weeks later, where among the top prospects on display were Jayson Tatum, King McClure, Isaiah Briscoe, Malik Monk, Malik Newman and Thomas Bryant. Check out some photos of them in action above. Just last weekend, the league held its 3rd session in Hampton (VA) — of which we should have cool photos of very soon. This upcoming weekend, the fourth and final regular season session will take place in Minnesota (MN), after which 24 of the 40 participating teams will advance to the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta (SC) for a mid-July championship showdown.

We just received a batch of new photos from this year’s Hoophall Classic, which took place three weeks ago in Springfield, MA during MLK-weekend. Touted as the top high school showcase of the winter, this year’s action-packed games featured an array of SportsCenter-worthy dunks, many of which you’ll see above. For a full recap of the weekend’s top performers, check out our top-35 performers write-up.

The third annual Big Strick Classic was once again a highly competitive and enjoyable event, showcasing some of the best high school talent in the country along with New York’s trademark passion for basketball.

Led by guards Isaiah Whitehead (16 points) and Isaiah Briscoe (11 points, to go with an awe-inspiring ball handling exhibition), along with forwards Cheick Diallo (23 points & 12 rebounds), Thomas Bryant (15 & 6) and Chris McCullough (17 & 9), Team NYC took control in the second half and emerged with a 126-110 victory over Team USA. The local kids avenged last year’s 87-86 heartbreaking defeat, but more importantly, now lead the all-time series, 2-to-1.

With the AAU circuit and skills camps in the rearview, the Big Strick Classic concludes a hectic summer of basketball (save for those competing in the UA Elite 24). Picking up on last year, an at-capacity Gauchos Gym played host to a highly intense, go hard or get exposed 48-minute contest. Based off the talent pool, raucous fanfare and increasing media presence, Big Strick is seemingly on the cusp of becoming a nationally-known event. Every year, ignited by the NYC team’s prideful defense of the Tri-state area and the USA team’s desire to make their own statement in the Mecca of hoops, the players elevate their games and show out in a hostile, unforgiving environment, which always makes for great basketball.

This year was no different, with a handful of the best high school talent on display. Organized by Left Hand Right Hand, LLC, the game was dedicated in memory of its namesake, the late John “Franchise” Strickland. A streetball legend in New York City, Strickland died in his sleep at the too-young age of 38 in October of 2010.

Strickland played college ball at Pacific University, and spent six seasons in the USBL, but his legacy was made on city asphalt. Strick coined the phrase “finish your breakfast,” reminding us that no move—no matter how eye-pleasing—is complete until the ball goes in the hoop. A childhood friend of Jay Z, HOV gives a nod to Strickland in the song Public Service Announcement, saying “My homie Strick told me ‘Dude finish your breakfast,’ So that’s what I’ma do…”

The players first gathered last Friday afternoon at Gauchos Gym in the Bronx. Led by Coach Sam Clark of UnderDogs Training and Coach Christian “Pop” Popoola of PremierBall.com, the players worked through a series of drills, including finishing through contact using Pop’s E.A.T. Battle Pads. Through constructively critical instruction, the kids were introduced to pro-style workouts, and were reminded that even though they’re elite at this level, they still have a long ways to go to reach their ultimate goal.

After a few hours of workouts, the teams had their first lick at each other in two 40-minute scrimmages. It started off a little sluggish, but as sweat started to accumulate, the atmosphere shifted towards a competitive seriousness that carried into gameday.

On Saturday, players competed in a 3-point and jaw-dropping dunk contest (tape of both is above). Brooklyn’s own son, Whitehead, took home the 3-point crown, and high-flyer Ladarrius Chester emerged as the dunk contest winner. Overall, the dunk contest was really special—it was the greatest performance of dunks I’ve ever seen in my life, and that’s not an exaggeration. Every throwdown was NBA-caliber.

After the pregame festivities, the game commenced. Team USA led at halftime, but in the second half, NYC picked up its transition game, and behind Briscoe, McCullough and Whitehead, increased its lead and never looked back.

Let’s break down some of the top players at the event. Be sure to check out the countless videos above, and also some great snapshots from the event in our photo gallery.

Scouting Report: Notable Players

Team USA

Kelly Oubre Jr. (Findlay Prep)

2014, SF, 6-7, 190 — Overall MVP of event

Offers from Kansas, UConn, Louisville, Kentucky and others

On Friday, Oubre was the star of the scrimmage, scoring 36 points, including five 3-pointers. And on Saturday, he followed up with a 25-point, 9-rebound outing, taking home game MVP honors.

In my estimation, Kelly Oubre is one of the five best players in the country, and projects to be a 2015 first-round pick. He has smooth range on his lefty jumpshot, is versatile to defend three backcourt positions, has supreme bounce and length, and can finish with his right hand.

Oubre is a great athlete who feeds off his defense to create transition opportunities. He can make plays off the dribble and finishes with thunderous authority. The kid is a moving pogo stick with unreal bounce and a mean streak; there is no doubt Kelly Oubre is a future NBA player.

Stephen Zimmerman (Bishop Gorman)

2015, C, 6-11, 215 — Team USA Co-MVP

Offers from Arizona, UConn, Kansas, Memphis, Indiana and others

With great size and length, Zimmerman is skilled beyond his years and has a uniquely-high basketball IQ for his age. At the Big Strick, he showcased an arsenal of advanced moves against more athletic defenders like Cheick Diallo and Chris McCullough, including exceptional timing on up-and-under moves, deft footwork, dunking ability with both hands and an overall presence when he was in the paint.

The hype surrounding Zimmerman is real, and it’s viable for him to be a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

He has excellent passing ability out of the high post, and can both face up and back his man down. In short, he has elite tools across the board and has the talent to dominate. He is a top-5 player in his class for sure, and maybe a top-3 big man in the country right now.

The kid has everything you want in a basketball player: immense talent, great size for his position, an extremely high basketball IQ, the ability lead, and the ability to get everyone else better.

He can play both guard positions, but if I were a coach, I’d give Hill the keys to the offense and let him operate. He sees the floor extremely well, can get into the paint and finish at the rim, and he competes hard on every possession. Hill rarely commits turnovers, can handle the ball against pressure and is a dynamic playmaker. I’ve seen all the top point guards in the class of 2014, and in my opinion, there’s not a point guard in 2014 who Ahmed Hill can’t compete with. I’m a huge fan.

JaQuan Lyle (Bosse HS)

2014, SG, 6-4, 185

Committed to Louisville

Lyle is a combo guard with a wide frame and terrific shooting ability. He can shoot coming off screens, in a catch-and-shoot stance, or off the dribble. He has solid footwork as well, allowing him to create space and get his shot off with ease.

Lyle is also a solid passer, as he showcased full-court vision and passing ability. He can create for teammates and make plays, but his go-to is off the dribble shooting ability. He pours it in.

Derrick Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll HS)

2015, SF, 6-6, 185

Offers from Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and others

Jones is an under-the-radar stud. He is a lanky, skinny kid with arguably the most bounce in the country. He effortlessly gets eye-level with the rim, and has improved his finishing ability.

Jones needs to fill out his frame and shore up his jumpshot, but he has the athletic tools to be a force on the court. He has excellent finishing ability, and is a versatile defender. If his skills catch up to his body, he has a chance to be special.

Jalen Lindsey (Huntington Prep)

2014, SF/PF, 6-7, 185

Committed to Providence

Lindsey is a cerebral player with freakish athleticism. He operates smoothly on the wing, is an effective slasher and explodes to the rim with even the slightest inch of separation.

He plays with an infectious energy and can shoot out to 20 feet. What’s fascinating about Lindsey is that although he’s right handed, he prefers to go left, which keeps defenders on their toes. Lindsey doesn’t’ waste dribbles and can explode through the lane.

At this point, Lindsey needs to shore up two things: His ball handling skills, and more importantly, his assertiveness.

He’ll need to improve his handle to make him a true small forward and perimeter threat. Working with dribbling guru G-d Shamgod at Providence will help him in this regard. Also, he needs to become more assertive, and develop a mean streak; the talent is undeniably there, but Lindsey doesn’t call for the ball and often disappears in games. He has too much talent to not touch the ball on 10 consecutive possessions, which seems to happen regularly when he’s playing.

Isaac Copeland(Brewster Academy)

2014, SF, 6-8, 190

Committed to Georgetown

Copeland is an extremely versatile swingman with huge upside. He has a bevy of skills to develop, and if he does, he can become a go-to player at Georgetown.

At 6-8, he has great shooting mechanics and a high release point to get off any shot he wants. He has vertical bounce and covers ground quickly on defense. Copeland is lanky and will need to fill out his frame, but he has a soft touch and an athletic frame. Isaac is only starting to come into his own, and has the frame and tools to be a great player one day.

Only 6-1, Chester is an electric point guard with next-level athleticism and a massive chip on his shoulder.

Chester is a bully. He has broad shoulders, and uses his strong frame to finish through contact at the rim. The next step for him is learning how to run an offense, but even still, he’s a fearless competitor with great physical tools. And, man, his bounce…wow.

Mustapha Heron (Wilbraham & Monson Academy)

2016, SG, 6-4, 197

Interest from several high-major schools

Heron is physical specimen for his age. He has the body of a strong running back, and has great body control and explosiveness on the basketball court.

He has excellent ball handling ability for his size, and is versatile to defend three positions.

Heron seems lost at times, often dribbling into nowhere or just feeling out the game while he’s on the court. If he can improve his feel for the game, he has the athletic tools and skill-set to be a high-impact player.

Team NYC

Chris McCullough (Brewster Academy)

2014, PF, 6-10, 220

Committed to Syracuse

McCullough finished the game with 19 points and 7 rebounds, and continued to display the athletic gifts he possesses.

He is a physical specimen with great upside. With very long arms and great mobility, he should have an immediate impact in Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, and also in their transition-heavy attack. He gets eye-level with the rim, and is a dangerous weak-side shot blocker.

McCullough is very raw right now, as he needs to develop his frame and a back-to-the-basket/face-up game, but his athletic abilities are jaw-dropping. With freakishly long arms, he doesn’t go to the rim; he goes at the rim, trying to dunk everything in his path. He’s started to showcase a motor, something that will set him apart from the rest. He has NBA potential for sure.

Isaiah Whitehead (Lincoln HS)

2014, PG, 6-4, 195

Offers from Syracuse, Arizona, UCLA and others

No matter who’s matched up against him, Isaiah will compete his butt off—we saw him battle with Archie Goodwin two summers ago, and Andrew Harrison last year.

This year it was more of the same, except Whitehead showcased something we hadn’t seen before: unlimited range on a smooth jumpshot. Whitehead took home the 3–point contest crown, and in Friday’s scrimmage he hit a few near-half-court contested jumpshots.

His shooting mechanics need work, as he releases the ball just above his chest, but his jumpshot has noticeaby improved. He’s in-between a point guard and shooting guard, but if he’s going to play at the next level it will be at PG. In order to make this transition, he’ll need to work on his passing, as he’s more of a scoring guard right now.

Whitehead is one of the best attackers in the class, and has a vast offensive arsenal to break his man down and put the ball in the hoop. Whitehead always had immense talent, but he would often take ill-advised shots and have tunnel vision with the basketball. Now, he’s found a comfortable balance, showing a willingness to reverse the ball and play within the offense, and then attack if an opportunity presents itself. In my estimation, right now Whitehead is the best guard in New York.

Cheick Diallo(Our Savior New American)

2015, PF, 6-9, 215 — Team NYC Co-MVP

Native of Mali

Offers from Arizona, Kansas, St. John’s and others

Diallo had a strong showing at the Big Strick, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

In terms of his game, it was more the usual: A defensive standout, but unpolished offensively. Diallo can guard both power forwards and centers—he and Stephen Zimmerman had quite the battle down low—and quickly gets off his feet to block everything that comes his way. He could easily be the best help-side defender in the country. Diallo makes it a personal mission to alter every shot in his vicinity, and has excellent mobility and bounce to run the floor lurking for blocks. He is young and extremely aggressive.

On offense, though, he needs a lot of work. He has virtually no feel in the paint, and had some trouble finishing at the rim. If he can make progress on offense, he will be a valuable high-major prospect. If he can’t, he’ll settle for being one of the best rim protectors in the nation.

Isaiah Briscoe (Roselle Catholic)

2015, SG, 6-3, 200 — Team NYC Co-MVP

Offers from UConn, Florida, Indiana and others

Briscoe is a strong guard with an outstanding handle, great body control and finishing ability. He doesn’t play above the rim, but he uses his body well and has a versatile skill-set—scoring, passing and getting out in transition—to make a significant impact. He legitimately took over the Big Strick with his handle, giving the USA team fits. Multiple body types tried to slow him down, and they just couldn’t.

Briscoe will take what the defense gives him, and then make them pay. He’s not an elite athlete, but he converts difficult shots from the perimeter and has the confidence to battle with any guard. He has great talent, and in authentic New York/Jersey fashion, always gets up for the challenge.

I’d be surprised if Briscoe is not a McDonald’s All-American in 2015.

Thomas Bryant (Bishop Kearney HS)

2015, SF/PF, 6-9, 200

Offers from Syracuse, Florida, Ohio State and others

At 6-foot-9 and still so young, Bryant has the makings of a future star. He is undoubtedly a top 10 player in the class of 2015.

He is a high-level athlete with a versatile skill-set and endless motor. He can put it on the floor, shoot out to 17 feet, bang down low, and finish above the rim. Many have said Bryant is the best power forward in his class. He plays on a loaded Team Scan AAU team which features 2014 forward Chris McCullough, 2015 forward Cheick Diallo and 2016 forward Kassoum Yakwe.

Bryant’s perimeter game is still fairly raw. Although he’s shown improvement in his handle and is becoming more comfortable on the perimeter, right now he plays mostly in the paint. Still, the skills and talent are definitely there. He projects to make an immediate impact at a high-major school.

Terry Larrier (The Phelps School)

2014, SF, 6-7, 200

Offers from VCU, UConn, Miami, Maryland, Texas and others

Larrier has great length and runs the floor with long, fluid strides. He is a big-time talent whose best basketball is clearly ahead of him. He can effortlessly finish on the break, and because of his great size for a small forward (6-7), he can shoot over smaller defenders. If he can crash the boards with more conviction and fill out his frame, Larrier will become a better offensive player, and can slowly develop into a legitimate prospect.

Bashir Ahmed (John F. Kennedy HS)

2014, SG, 6-4, 200

Verbally Committed to Iona

Ahmed is a long and athletic 6-4 guard with advanced moves. He is a freak athlete who flies off of one foot, and has next-level explosion.

Plain and simple, if he had a more consistent jumpshot, Ahmed would be a high-major prospect. He has great size and wingspan, can get into the lane at will, is a solid defender and an excellent rebounder from the wing. I have a feeling that Ahmed will shore up his fundamentals under Tim Cluess, and eventually make national noise at Iona. He has the requisite gifts to do so.

Carrington is a smooth lefty with great bounce. He is a little undersized, but he is crafty with the ball, can finish in transition and has an effective in-between game. He can play both on/off the ball, and has seen his stock rise throughout the year.

Shavar Newkirk (Cardinal Hayes)

2014, PG, 5-11, 175

Committed to St. Joe’s

Newkirk is a tough point guard who plays good defense and can direct his teammates. He gets into the paint and can finish around bigger defenders. He should continue to improve, particularly in his passing and jumpshot. If he can, he has the confidence and toughness to compete with guys who are bigger than him.

Prince Ali (The Sagemont School)

2015, 6-3, 180, G

Offers from Georgia, Illinois, UConn and others

Ali is a very athletic guard who attacks the rim in transition and makes things happen with the ball in his hands. He has extremely long arms, which make him effective defensively, and also has deft passing ability in the paint.

Ali is a high-major prospect with great upside. If he can shore up his jumpshot, he has a chance to be a dynamic playmaker with freak athletic ability.

Rawle Alkins (Christ The King)

2016, SG, 6-4, 174,

Interest from several high-major schools

Alkins is a big-time athlete with nice size and strong finishing ability. He dunks the ball with ease, and is a solid defender. Right now, his bread and butter is getting into the paint and scoring, which he does very well.

Alkins has a lot of time to develop into a high-major prospect. He’s certainly on the right path.

Mike Williams (Bishop Loughlin)

2014, SG, 6-2, 175

Committed to Rutgers

Williams is an all-around player who does a little bit of everything. He’s undersized for his position, but he compensates with deep range on his jumpshot and sound passing instincts. He’s a versatile player who can score in a variety ways; he has a great feel for the game and is talented. Under the tutelage of Eddie Jordan, Williams has a chance to make a significant impact at Rutgers.

Unique McLean(Hoosac School)

2016, SG, 6-1, 175

Interest from Detroit, Siena, Boston and others

Unique is a great athlete with a legitimate 40-inch vertical. He can get into the lane and create. He doesn’t really have a position right now, as he’s a scorer in point guard’s body, but his athletic gifts help him make an impact. He is only a rising sophomore, so McLean has time to hone his point guard skills and bring it all together.